Oct 21, 2015 2 min read

State Sens. Camera Bartolotta, R- Carroll Township and Randy Vulakovich, R-Shaler Township, have introduced legislation calling for a state constitutional amendment to expand the Property Tax Exemption Program for Disabled Veterans.

Currently, an honorably discharged veteran must be 100 percent disabled to receive a 100 percent exemption from property taxes. The senators’ proposal would provide tax exemptions to all disabled veterans -with at least a 50 percent disability – at a percentage corresponding to their level of disability, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Under this proposal, veterans who are determined to be 100 percent disabled will continue to be completely exempted from paying property taxes, while those veterans considered 50 percent disabled would be exempt from paying half of their property taxes,” said Vulakovich.

“It is inconceivable that some of the brave men and women who sacrificed their health and wellbeing to protect our freedom are now struggling just to stay in their homes due to the rising property tax burden,” Bartolotta said.

The constitutional amendment measure will be introduced as Senate Bill 1039. Amendments to the state Constitution must be approved by the General Assembly during two consecutive legislative sessions and be approved by voter referendum.

The bill will be the subject of a joint public hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, chaired by Vulakovich, and the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, set for 10 a.m. Monday at the Capitol.